Gloucester Rugby Community Department run a range of Development Programme's which help to  identify age group players to be selected for Elite Player Development Programmes. This is the first step of the player development pathway.

The programme's provide specific training, sports science and conditioning sessions for selected players. They include practical coaching on core rugby skills and a series of key performance workshops. Players continue to play and train with their clubs.

To enable the programme's syllabus's to run effectively there needs to be a degree of flexibility where external factors may have some effect e.g. weather, equipment, personnel etc. As a consequence the title of the sessions is not prescribed. However, the contents, on completion of all sessions, will have covered the following.

Fitness -

Speed, Agility, Aerobic endurance, Flexibility, Muscular endurance, Power.

Handling -

Passing (right and left hand) Spin pass, Switch pass, Loop pass, Passing from the ground, Decision making, Passing variation.

Continuity -

Ball Presentation, Pass out of the tackle, Ruck, Maul, Hit and spin, Hit and rip, Communication, Kick variation.

Running and Supporting Skills -

Side step, swerve, Change of pace, line of running, Decision making, Support the ball carrier, fend off.

Tackling and Defence -

Side tackle, Front tackle, Rear tackle, Smother tackle, regain/ contest ball, Defensive systems.

Development 

Players will be continually assessed in 4 key areas - ATTITUDE (work rate, commitment, ability and willingness to learn, mental toughness, ambition). ATHLETIC POTENTIAL (speed, strength, power, body type). RUGBY ABILITY (core skills, handling, running, continuity, defence, technical and tactical skills). PLAYING POTENTIAL (the process is looking to identify and assess players with the potential and ambition to become an elite athlete. This may result in less able rugby players being selected as they have greater athletic potential or the smaller more skillful player selected over a player that may have physically matured earlier).

The selection process is ongoing and constantly reviewed. Players can be selected onto the scheme at any time and can also be released from the programme at any time.